Natural Healing With Exercise

Exercise  is a physical effort for the improvement of health.  Improve  means to make better. Exercise is a source of  natural  healing because it can improve your health without always needing a doctor's visit.

In fact, Western medicine is recognizing exercise as a method of healing. Jorg Blech's  Healing Through Exercise  states that "exercise has found its way into the heart of medicine" and that psychiatrists, oncologists, orthopedics specialists, dementia researchers and cardiologists, have reached the conclusion that exercise benefits people.

What does this mean? Start exercising; physical activity is essential for you physically  and  mentally. For instance, Blech states that exercise replenishes cells with "fresh nutrients and growth factors." According to  Henriette van Praag, expert on neurogenesis at the Neuroplacticity and Behavior Unit of the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore, "Exercise is the strongest known stimulus to grow new nerve cells." With active use, these new cells increase learning.

 In other words, exercise makes you smarter. In Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, Harvard Medical School psychiatrist John Ratey states,"Exercise is the single best thing for your brain . . . and learning."

Now you can have the brains to go with that gym body.

In addition to good looks, intelligence, and overall good health, exercise also promotes blow flow. This is ideal if you're an aging gentlemen struggling with erectile dysfunction. According to Health, exercise stimulates blood flow towards the genitalia, which increases sexual desire.

How To Manage Stress in Summer's Heat

It's not officially summer yet, but summer's heat is definitely in full swing. And with summer's muggy and overbearing weather, there's much frustration and stress. In any event, don't let summer's heat get you out of character or bothered. Here's a few tips on how to handle summer's stress.

The first thing to know and understand is that summer isn't  stressful. Yes, it's humid. Yes, you're sweating. Yes, the person next to you stinks. Yes, you don't want to be bothered. Nevertheless, none of these situations actually  translate as stress. Meaning these are not situations you should be stressed over.

What is stress?

According to the "Book of Alternative Medicine & Home Remedies", " . . . stress is not the event itself, but rather your psychological or physical reaction to the event". Essentially, this means that stress is how we perceive  and respond  to a situation, not the situation itself. It's our thoughts of summer and how respond to it that makes us stressed out, not summer.

In having saying that, exactly  how do you handle summer's heat without being stressed out?

The first thing is acknowledging that it's summer; it's going to be hot and  muggy. You can't physically or psychologically control summer's temperature, you can only adapt  to it. Here are a few tips on controlling your  situation without being stressed out:

• light and loose clothes -- lighter fabrics and loose clothes brings a sense of comfort.
• consume lots of water -- to avoid dehydration, drink tons of water.
• stay out of the heat -- try walking in the shade or cool down in a library.
• personal fan -- handheld fans can be used at all times.

Reasons You Should Eat More Garlic

Hippocrates stated, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." Essentially, this means our diet should consist of food that will better our health, not jeopardize it. This isn't to say that you can't enjoy a piece of steak or a plate of buffalo fried shrimps. In any event, keep in mind that they may be delicious to your taste buds, but the question is, Are they good for your health?

Ironically, there are foods that might not taste too good, but are great for our health. For instance. garlic might not have the best taste, but it does benefit our health. According to Medical Daily, allicin provides garlic with many herbal remedies. Allicinfacts.com states that allicin is responsible for numerous things such as combating cancer and providing antioxidants, which is the key to garlic's healing power and strong odor.

In fact, the medicinal power of garlic is ancient and ubiquitous. Garlic was used by civilizations of antiquity such as Egypt, China, India, and Greece. According to The Journal of Nutrition, garlic was fed to laborers building the pyramids in Egypt. In ancient Greece, athletes that participated in the Olympics ate garlic because it was believed to increase performance. In ancient China, garlic was used to facilitate respiration, promote better digestion, and improve male potency.

In addition, garlic is beneficial in fighting the common cold, lowering blood pressure, and improving bone health.  Medical Daily also reports that garlic is essential for countering hair loss because it is high in sulfure, which has keratin. Keratin is a protein found in hair, which helps the hair to grow.

The next time you're fighting a cold, heading to the gym, or think you're going bald, add garlic to your diet and notice the difference.

Fruits and Vegetables: A Cure For Cancer.

   

Fruits and Vegetables contain phytochemicals that fight cancer.

     If you're not eating enough fruits and veggies, you might want to reconsider. According to Cancer Causes & Control, vegetables are a great defense against cancer. One study published in the medical journal stated, "Vegetables and fruit contain the anticarcinogenic cocktail to which we are adapted. We abandon it at our peril." In other words, fruits and vegetables have something very important that is able to fight cancer; a low intake of fruits and vegetables will result in cancer.

      What is this unique source in fruits and vegetables that can fight cancer? It's a host of chemicals known as phytochemicals. These are compounds found in plants and vegetables. The World Book Encyclopedia says, " . . . certain foods contain substances, called phytochemicals that may help prevent cancers . . . such foods include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage . . ." The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods asserts that phytochemicals have a "greater protection against cancer" than simpler nutrients such as antioxidants, vitamins C and E. Pigments such as carotene, chlorophyll, and flavonoids, are significant groups of phytochemicals.

Chlorophyll-rich foods

     Foods rich in carotene are carrots, spinach, tomatoes, cantaloupe, apricots and citrus fruits. In fact, I watched a video on YouTube of a man that cured himself of cancer from eating large quantities of apricots. Flavonoid-rich foods include berries, cherries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, and peppers. Foods that have a great source of chlorophyll (green leaf) would be your green veggies such as lettuce, spinach, and collard greens. Incorporating these foods into your diet will fight against cancer. Ironically, many crops are exposed to pesticides, which are carcinogenic. The ideal solution is to eat organic crops that are pesticide-free, reducing your risk of getting cancer.

     In addition, it is also imperative to estrange yourself from foods that are high in fats; they are carcinogenic and can cause cancer in the breast, colon, and prostate gland. The idea is to develop a healthy lifestyle and "avoiding contact with known carcinogens". For instance, people that get radiation therapy and chemotherapy are exposing themselves to cancer. World Book states, " . . . radiation therapy and chemotherapy can actually cause secondary cancers, including leukemia . . ."

     Natural healing is vital and combating cancer with fruits and vegetables has proven to be successful and inexpensive.

MonaVie: The Future of Natural Healing

MonaVie's Health Juices are rich in antioxidants.

Some of us never heard of MonaVie. I was introduced to it by Cherry Smyth while she was in Atlanta, Georgia for a convention held by her company, MonaVie.

What is MonaVie? Monavie is a company that began in 2005 that focuses on creating products that promote health and wellness. MonaVie's products are essential to the four elements that secure great health -- nutrition, weight, energy, and stress. 

What are their products? MonaVie manufactures energy drinks, dietary supplements, protein bars, and health juices. The company uses vital ingredients such as vitamins, phytonutrients, glucosamine, and it's product-seller, antioxidants.

It was antioxidants that kept me interested in learning about MonaVie. For those of you not-in-the-know, antioxidants are highly beneficial. For instance, they are a great source of vitamins A, C, and E. In 2012, Carcinogenesis published a study showing how vitamin C promotes an important antioxidant enzyme that helps prevent breast cancer. Within the same year, the Age journal published a study illustrating how vitamins C and E facilitate maintaining your youth and can prevent memory-loss.

Antioxidants are very beneficial to our health.

The best thing about antioxidants is that they are natural. They can be found in fruits and vegetables. What makes MonaVie great is that it uses at least 19 antioxidants in its products. This is important because combining antioxidant-rich foods is very effective. According to a study published in Journal of Medicinal Food, mixing strawberries, blueberries, and spinach, has a greater impact on the nervous system than eating either antioxidant-rich ingredient alone. According to the study, those antioxidant-rich ingredients hinder an enzyme that may be involved in neurological disorders such as autism, depression, and schizophrenia.

Antioxidants are the real-deal and MonaVie is going to be the future of natural healing because they understand the metaphysics of antioxidants and how to properly use them. Cherry invited me to the convention and I heard countless testimonies of how MonaVie's products healed family members and friends. It didn't feel like church; I knew these people were being honest because I know the healing power of antioxidants. Cherry was passionate about it, too; that convinced me that she believes in MonaVie, which is interesting since she studied nursing in New York.

MovaVie convention; Atlanta, Georgia.

I'm blessed that Cherry introduced me to MonaVie. I'm interested in purchasing their energy drinks, protein bars, and becoming a distributor of their products, too.

Cherry Smyth, MonaVie distributor.

To purchase a product, or learn additional information about MonaVie, contact Cherry by clicking this link.

Ayurvedic Medicine: India's Holistic Method

Ayurveda's Doshas

Different cultures have unique methods to natural healing. For instance, India's traditional medicine is Ayurveda (knowledge of life). Ayurvedic medicine is a holistic approach to health and life. According to Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook, its healing methods focuses on incorporating medical, philosophical, and religious beliefs. The Alternative Medicine Handbook states that Ayurveda is an "ancient healing system" that can be tracked back to the Vedas.

The Vedas

Traditionally, Ayurvedic medicine teaches that life held in tact by a nonphysical life energy (prana). Prana signifies a healthy life that is balanced physically, mentally, spiritually, and environmentally. When prana is not balanced, people become sick, age, and ultimately, die. 

According to The Alternative Medicine, this energy balance isn't limited just an internal factor, but external, too. There must be an energy balance between people and their environments to achieve unity with the Universe.

What products and practices does Ayurvedic medicine incorporate? According to Alternative Medicine, Rasayanas, or herbal supplements, gemstones, panchakarmas (purification procedures), and yagyas (religious ceremonies to solicit the aid of Hindu deities). Other therapeutic procedures are breathing exercises, meditation, massage, diets. 

It is important to estrange yourself from negativity. Ama is an accumulation of negative energy, which is unhealthy for you. Negative energy isn't only people, but negative thoughts, unhealthy food, and habits.

Interestingly, Ayurveda teaches that there are three doshas. There is a specific dosha found in specific body organs and they have a relationship with at least two environmental elements. The three doshas are kapha, pitta, and vata. The five elements are earth, water, fire, air, and ether. Why ether? According to The Alternative Medicine Handbook,  ether is believed to be connected to hearing and opening spaces in the mind.

Ayurveda's relationship between the Elements and Doshas

Ayurvedic practitioners believe that the doshas act as a bridge among organs and internals parts of the body. In addition, they also connect the body with the cosmos.

Ayurveda is similar to Chi, China's traditional medicine.

Alternative Medicine Vs. Conventional Medicine

There's a reason it's called alternative medicine -- it's not conventional (i.e., mainstream). Alternative medicine, or complementary alternative medicine (CAM), differs from conventional, Western medicine. As stated in Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook, alternative medicine's approach to health care is "treating the body, the mind, and the spirit." This is the focal point of alternative medicine -- healing the body, the mind, and the spirit by "relying on noninvasive 'natural' methods of healing." 

For example, the traditional medicine of India is Ayurveda (knowledge of life) and it sought to nourish a person entirely by using medical, philosophical, and religious beliefs -- body, mind, and spirit.

You may have already started thinking that conventional medicine does the same thing. That is true only because there are some conventional, medical institutions that are now incorporating holistic practices into their care. In The Best Alternative Medicine, Dr. Kenneth R. Pelletier states "medical schools and insurance companies are gradually accepting CAM modalities." This is known as integrative medicine, but this wasn't always the case.

There was a time where CAM and conventional medicine were at odds with each other. CAM considered conventional medicine an institution of financial gain in league with pharmaceutical companies. Meanwhile, conventional medicine viewed CAM worthless and unproven therapy. However, over the years, both sides have realized the benefit of one another and are now working with one another.

Personally speaking, I would recommend natural, prescription-free remedies than pharmaceutical drugs. For example, when it comes to fighting cancer, studies show that alternative medicine cures cancer by employing the cannabis plant. Although there are cancer-survivors that use conventional, Western medicine, we cannot ignore their expensive medical bills.

Overall, there are benefits of CAM that are void in conventional medicine and vice versa. It is up to you to learn the benefits of each and discern what is harmful. For instance, aspirin can be dangerous; it causes gastric bleeding, ulcers, and ironically, suppresses the immune system. In Prescription Alternatives, Dr. Earl L. Mindell states that aspirin is harmful used long term and a study published in British Medical Journal found aspirin to cause gastrointestinal hemorrhage -- 50 mg or 1, 500 mg.

"Are you in good hands?"